A 67-YEAR-OLD man appeared in Jersey Magistrates Court yesterday, Wednesday, February 15th, charged with raping two women more than 40 years ago at a centre for the disabled in Jersey.

Dennis Humble, of Grove Common, Sellack, Herefordshire, is alleged to have raped one woman twice and the other once at a premises which was known at the time as Maison Variety, at Five Oaks, during the 1970s.

The centre is now known as the Les Amis centre for the disabled in St Saviour.

Assistant Magistrate Peter Harris told the defendant the case was too serious for the lower court to deal with and that it would be sent to the Royal Court.

As part of his bail conditions, Mr Humble, who only spoke to confirm his name and address at the short hearing, was also ordered to have no contact with witnesses, to surrender his passport, not to travel outside of England and Wales, to report to police in Hereford once a week and to live at his current address.

The case was adjourned until March 15th and is expected to be committed to the Royal Court on March 29th.